System and method for reclaiming and optimizing land

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a system for treating land, either to reclaim or optimize the land. Embedded subsurface pipes deliver water to the land. The water may be loaded with soil-treating additives. As water streams from the pipes, it treats the land before passing into a drainage ditch around the periphery of the land. The water is removed from the ditch and recycled, removing contaminants (in reclamation operations) or adding more additives (in optimization operations), before returning to the pipes for another round of treatment, if necessary.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of prior-filed, co-pending U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/610,484, filed on Dec. 26, 2017,the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for soilremediation, and more specifically to a system and method for soilremediation and optimization making use of pipelines located in thesoil.

Arable land is a diminishing and increasingly precious commodity. Theworld's population is growing 1.1% annually while quality fertile andtillable land is actually decreasing due to pollution, soil nutrientexhaustion, lack of irrigation, poor cultivation techniques, and theexpansion of cities and industrial activity. The world is drawing nearerto the point where its population's food requirements exceed the growingcapacity of available land using existing technologies. In many areas,contaminated land may be useless for commercial and/or residentialredevelopment, requiring further sacrifice of arable farmland to allowurban expansion. Contaminants from untreated land may eventually leachinto water tables or adjacent, uncontaminated land, causing illness inlocal populations, ecological damage, and other hardships.

Soil contamination is generally treated in at least one of three ways.Bioremediation introduces tailored microorganisms to break downcontaminants in the soil. Thermal desorption involves heating soil in arotating dryer to remove or separate contaminants from the soil.Chemical fixation mixes contaminated material with other earthenmaterial, then binds the contaminants in the mixture with chemicaladditives.

Each of these treatments has flaws. Bioremediation must be adapted tothe contaminants and is only effective if microorganisms capable ofbreaking down the specific contaminants are available. Thermaldesorption and chemical fixation require manual removal of a largevolume of soil and can be too expensive or complex for developingnations or small farms. These remediation technologies do not take intoaccount the need to enrich the soil and provide irrigation afterprocessing.

A solution is needed that not only optimizes the use of existing arableland available but further cleanses, enriches, and reclaims non-arableland appropriately while putting back into the identified land therequired nutrients and organic substances needed to promoteenvironmental regrowth or the production of healthy, contaminant-freefoods.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The system for treating land includes at least one pipe loop embedded ina plot of land. A wall of the pipe loop has a plurality of pipeapertures extending therethrough. At least one water main pipe isconnected to the pipe loop. At least one drainage trench encircles theplot of land and drains to at least one water storage unit. At least oneirrigation pump is interposed between the water storage unit and thewater main pipe. A stream of water circulates from the pipe loop to theplot of land to the drainage trench to the water storage unit to theirrigation pump to the water main pipe and back to the pipe loop.

The method for using the above system requires that at least one pipeloop is embedded below an upper surface of a plot of land. A beginningof the pipe loop is connected to an outlet pipe branch of at least onewater main pipe. An end of the pipe loop is connected to an inlet pipebranch of the water main pipe. At least one drainage trench is dugcompletely circumscribing the plot of land. The drainage trench isconnected to at least one water storage unit. The drainage trench islined with permeable membrane and non-permeable membrane. At least oneirrigation pump is connected between the water main pipe and the waterstorage unit. A system controller is connected to the irrigation pump. Astream of water is circulated from the pipe loop to the plot of land tothe drainage trench to the water storage unit to the irrigation pump tothe water main pipe and back to the pipe loop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1a depicts a system diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a landreclaiming and optimizing system. FIG. 1b depicts a partialcross-sectional view of the system installed in the land. FIGS. 1c and1d depict top sectional and cross-sectional views, respectively, of anexemplary embodiment of a pipe loop.

FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, and 2f depict a flowchart of an exemplarymethod for land reclamation.

FIGS. 3a and 3b depict a flowchart of an exemplary method for optimizingland.

FIG. 4 depicts a system diagram of an exemplary embodiment of acontroller for the land reclaiming and optimizing system.

It should be understood that for clarity, not every part is labeled inevery drawing. Lack of labeling should not be interpreted as a lack ofdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the present description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beapplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes only and are intended to bebroadly construed. The different systems and methods described hereinmay be used alone or in combination with other systems and methods.Various equivalents, alternatives and modifications are possible withinthe scope of the appended claims. Each limitation in the appended claimsis intended to invoke interpretation under 35 U.S.C. § 112, sixthparagraph, only if the terms “means for” or “step for” are explicitlyrecited in the respective limitation.

This land reclaiming and optimizing system 100 is a combination ofdifferent technologies that can remediate the soil to a normalized leveland/or optimize the soil for environmental regrowth or growing crops byadding organics and other necessary nutrients, water, fertilizers etc.System 100 can reduce many soil contaminants, such as, but not limitedto, heavy metals, carcinogens, hydrocarbons, volatile organic compounds,and other unwanted soil materials to appropriate normalized levels. Ifdesired, the system 100 can also or instead add the correct water,nutrients, organic fertilizers, and other soil additives to the soil topromote the environmental regrowth or balanced growth of organic cropsthrough existing hydroponics knowledge.

The system 100 allows environmental remediation and/or growth of healthycrops due to the washing and elimination of contaminants in the soil.The system 100 is based on the scientific application of multipledifferent water processing technologies. The application of theseprocesses through system 100 can provide soil remediation for otherwiseblighted areas and change the quality and volumetric output of theworld's food supply per acre for generations to come. The furtherbenefit of remediating currently polluted land which has been renderedunusable due to heavy industrial contamination or other environmentalfactors is creating uncontaminated land that promotes provides a safeenvironment for living creatures. The system 100 works in tandem withthe earth's normal growing, watering, and fertilization processes topromote healthy, organic crop growth and environmental remediation.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1a and 1b , the system 100 includes multiplepipe loops 10 embedded below the frostline and/or maximum plant rootdepth of the plot of land to be reclaimed and/or optimized. Ideally,pipe loops 10 are located in topsoil, above a level of slow-draininghardpan to allow the water to flow primarily through the topsoil. Eachpipe loop 10 underlies a particular section of the plot of land to betreated, allowing treatment to be customized for that specific area ofland. The pipe loops 10 may be a semi-rigid or rigid material with pipeapertures 11 extending through the walls of pipe loop 10 to allowdelivery of water, fertilizer, nutrients, and other fluid soiladditives, as can be seen in FIG. 1c . The pipe apertures 11 do notnecessarily extend through the uppermost point of the walls, nor do theynecessarily form a regular or linear progression, as can be seen inFIGS. 1c and 1d . The pipe apertures 11 may also be grouped atintervals, as can be seen in FIG. 1 c.

The pipe loops 10 may extend along the length and/or width of the landto be treated or terminate or curve at a point partially the lengthand/or width of the land to be treated. The pipe loops 10 may bestraight, curved, or double back one or more times along their length.In other embodiments, pipe loops 10 may have a crisscrossing and/ormultilevel configuration. Pipe loops 10 may also form a meshed pipenetwork.

The pipe apertures 11 may be fitted with aperture non-return valves 12to prevent soil, abnormally long roots, and other debris from enteringpipe loop 10. Emplacement of pipe loops 10 may be accomplished byhorizontal drilling and pipe deployment, and/or by manually ormechanically digging or plowing a trench in the land and laying pipeloops 10 in place. In certain embodiments using horizontal drilling, thedrilling gel used to assist in drilling may be loaded withsoil-remediation additives to improve soil-remediation capabilities ofsystem 100 or soil-improving additives to allow additional soiloptimization. In certain embodiments, fluid-resistant membranes 13 areplaced extending from the circumference of pipe loop 10 to seal pipeloop 10 to the soil and prevent water from surfacing prematurely. Thisassures that the soil pressure is maintained and that the water takes anappropriate path through the soil before entering a drainage trench 20.Membranes 13 may be hygroscopic membranes and may be placed where pipeloop 10 enters or exits the soil and/or enters or exits drainage trench20.

The pipe loops 10 are connected to at least one water main pipe 15through outlet and inlet pipe branches 16 a and 16 b, respectively. Theoutlet pipe branch 16 a connects the beginning of pipe loop 10 to onewater main pipe 15 to receive treated water. The corresponding inletpipe branch 16 b connects the end of pipe loop 10 to the same water mainpipe 15 to return any remaining treated water. Each water main pipe 15may have more than one pair of outlet and inlet pipe branches 16 a and16 b. Both outlet and inlet pipe branches 16 a and 16 b may include oneor more branch valves 17. The branch valves 17 may be mechanical or maybe actuated by an electronic or manual controller. Such selectiveactuation permits fluid delivery through specific pipe loops 10 orprecise groups thereof to allow targeted treatment of different areas ofthe land. One-way branch valves 17 can also prevent backflow into pipeloop 10 or water main pipe 15.

After water is expelled from pipe loops 10, the water travels throughthe soil, removing or binding contaminants and/or depositing soiladditives. Excess water, which may be laden with contaminants and/orsurplus additives, travels to the edges of the land, which arecompletely surrounded along the periphery by drainage trench 20. Thedrainage trench 20 is lined at the bottom with a liquid-impermeablemembrane 21 to prevent the water from carrying contaminants or excesssoil additives to other areas. The sides of drainage trench 20 may belined with liquid-impermeable membrane 21 or a liquid-permeable membrane22, but at least one side is lined with liquid-permeable membrane 22 toallow liquid to pass from the field to drainage trench 20.

In certain embodiments where large areas of land are treated, the landso surrounded may be subdivided by additional drainage trench(es) 20into individual fields, each with their own set of pipe loops 10, butsharing mutually bordering drainage trenches 20 and/or certain of theremaining components of system 100. As can be seen in FIG. 1b , bothsides of drainage trench 20 between remediated fields are lined withliquid-permeable membrane 22 to allow both fields to drain into the sametrench. Between a remediated field and an unremediated field, the sideof drainage trench 20 next to the remediated field is lined withliquid-permeable membrane 22, while the side next to the unremediatedfield is lined with liquid-impermeable membrane 21 to prevent liquidfrom passing between fields.

In certain embodiments, drainage trench 20 drains to a water storageunit 40 through a high-volume water processor 30, which removes and/orbreaks down chemical and/or particulate contaminants, such as, but notlimited to, volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, heavy metals,munitions residue, agrochemicals, salts, and human and animal waste. Incertain embodiments, water processor 30 includes or is in line with anionization unit 31 to provide ozone- and hydroxide-ionization assistedbreakdown of contaminants. The water processor 30 may be a high-volumewater cleaning unit, such as, but not limited to, the water processorsused in cleaning fracking water.

The water processor 30 may utilize water processing methodologies suchas, but not limited to, deionization, biological water treatment (withor without media filtration), ozonation, hydroxide (OH⁻) dosing, watersoftening, distillation and vapor distillation, ultraviolet radiation,electrostatic water treatment, flocculation, filtration, and anycombination thereof. The water processor 30 may utilize filtrationmethodologies such as, but not limited to, reverse osmosis filtration,sediment filtration, sand filtration, filtration with commerciallyavailable media (such as, but not limited to, Kinetic DegradationFluxion redox filtration media, Aqua Treatment Services filters, etc.),activated carbon filtration, nanoscale or graphene membrane filtration,electrodialysis, filtration with activated alumina (Al₂O₃), and anycombination thereof. The water processor 30 may utilize sediment removalmethodologies such as, but not limited to, weirs, centrifugalseparation, gravity separators, coarse membranes or media withbackwashing, Y strainers, spin down strainers, and any combinationthereof.

Water processed by water processor 30 is transferred to water storageunit 40. In one embodiment, water storage unit 40 is a storage pondlined with another liquid-impermeable membrane 21. In anotherembodiment, water storage unit 40 is a closed, partially open, or openstorage tank. In still another embodiment, water storage unit 40includes multiple water storage units 40 connected in series, inparallel, or in any combination thereof. Sediment in the water cansettle in water storage unit 40 to prevent migration to and clogging ordamage of other parts of system 100. This sediment settling may be inaddition to or in place of sediment removal by water processor 30. Thewater storage unit 40 may also incorporate any of the above-listedsediment removal methodologies.

A filtration pump 55 can pump water from water storage unit 40 to afiltration unit 32 for additional processing. In one embodiment,filtration unit 32 uses reverse osmosis filtration to further removecontaminants from water. Other embodiments may use additional and/oralternative filtration technologies, such as any of the above-listedfiltration methodologies or combinations thereof.

After water passes through filtration unit 32, irrigation pump 55pressurizes the water for delivery to water main pipe 15. Beforeentering water main pipe 15, water may be further treated by varioustreatment units connected to irrigation pump 55 or the water linesleading thereto. At least one additive unit 33 may provide additionalsoil additives or additives that assist in soil remediation, such as,but not limited to, chemical binders or degraders. Such additives may beadded using, by way of non-limiting example, metering pumps, venturipumps, line injection, various mixing and/or blowing processes, and anycombination thereof.

An additional ionization unit 31 may treat water before it enters theland to allow effective in situ breakdown of contaminants. A heater unit34 may increase the water temperature to heat the land, allowing earlierplanting and germination. The heater unit 34 is a liquid heater such as,but not limited to, a thin film heater, a ceramic heater, a resistiveheater, a solar heater, a geothermal heat pump, a fossil fuel-basedheater, a friction heater, a thermo-electric heater, and any combinationthereof. Additional and/or duplicative treatment units in anycombination may be added at any stage to utilize any of the abovetreatment, water processing, sediment removal, and/or filtrationmethodologies.

The branch valves 17, water processor 30, ionization unit(s) 31,filtration unit 32, additive unit 33, heater unit 34, water storage unit40, filtration pump 50, and/or irrigation pump 55 may be controlled by asystem controller 60. The system controller 60 may allow automaticand/or manual monitoring of the land under treatment or any systemcomponent through at least one moisture sensor 70, chemical sensor 71,temperature sensor 72, pressure sensor 73, flow sensor 74, and anycombination thereof. Other sensors, such as, but not limited to, pH andlight sensors, may also be used. These sensors may be integrated intosystem components and/or placed throughout the land under treatment.

By way of non-limiting example, in one embodiment pressure sensor 73detects abnormal pressure spikes or drops within pipe loop 10 that mayindicate damage to or blockage of pipe loop 10. By way of non-limitingexample, in another embodiment flow sensor 74 detects abnormal waterflow within pipe loop 10 that may indicate damage to or blockage of pipeloop 10. By way of non-limiting example, in another embodiment chemicalsensor 71 detects the amount of soil additive left in water flowing intoinlet pipe branch 16 b to prevent over-enrichment of the soil.

Data collected from the various system components may be stored oncontroller data storage 66. In one embodiment, controller data storage66 is cloud storage. The system controller 60 may be connected via awired and/or wireless connection to any of the above components ofsystem 100. The system controller 60 may receive status updates,treatment feedback, sensor data, and user input, transmit controlsignals and output data to users and controller data storage 66, andautomatically calculate adjustments required to any part of system 100to maintain a given level of operations or follow a course of treatment.

The system controller 60 may directly control system components or maysend commands to sub-controllers regulating individual components orgroups of components. Embodiments for very large remediation and/oroptimization operations may use multiple controllers 60 operatingindependently or slaved to a master controller 80, which functionssimilarly to controller 60, but with increased storage and processingpower to allow control over a more complex system 100. The controller 60may completely automate all aspects of regulating system 100, requiremanual input of all controlling factors, or provide limited automationwith user setup, manual intervention, and/or user approval required forcertain exceptions.

The system controller 60 may use operational profiles 90 includingdiffering operational parameters. Operational parameters are the systemand/or component commands and/or settings necessary for treatment of agiven contaminant or set of contaminants in a given environment, or foroptimization of a given area of land in a given environment. Operationalprofiles 90 may have completely pre-set parameters, have somecustomizable parameters, or require user input of all parameters.Parameters may be based on contaminants, intended future crops or otherplants, soil types, field configurations, drainage, weather conditions,existing or available system components, any other required or optionalvariables, and any combinations thereof. Operational profiles 90 mayalso differ based on intended end-uses of the land.

By way of non-limiting examples, the operational profile 90 forremediating chromium contamination from a level field with shallow sandyclay soil in a cold, arid environment may be very different fromremediating cyclonite contamination from a sloping field with deep siltyloam soil in a warm, humid environment. The operational profile 90 foroptimizing soil for growing barley in a hilly field withnutrient-deficient clay loam in a savanna environment may also bedifferent from optimizing soil for growing early-germinating soybeans ina terraced field with sandy loam soil in an oceanic environment. Theoperational profile 90 for remediating contaminated land for use ingrowing crops may be different from that for remediating contaminatedland for use in a commercial development.

Soil scanning via various methods, in advance of remediation, isbeneficial in determining the likely success of the remediation. Lack ofconsistency in the level or speed of water drainage to deeper depthsbeneath the surface of the earth can create significant issues. By wayof non-limiting example, an old well drilled in a field can eliminate orreduce the ability to create the necessary back pressures in the soil topush the contaminated water to the surface and into drainage trench 20.In such a case, the decision may be made to use other methods oftreatment, modify the subsurface, or only treat part of a field.

The system 100 may be used in multiple configurations through twodifferent phases: (1) remediation and (2) optimization. It should beunderstood that the specific arrangement of the elements of system 100may be restructured as long as the fundamental function of system 100remains unaltered.

In the first phase, at least the pipe loops 10, water main pipe 15,drainage trench 20, water processor 30, filtration unit 32, waterstorage unit 40, filtration pump 50, and irrigation pump 55 are used toremediate contaminated land. A stream of water circulates from pipe loop10 to the land to drainage trench 20 to water processor 30 to waterstorage unit 40 to filtration pump 50 to filtration unit 32 toirrigation pump 55 to water main pipe 15, then back into pipe loop 10for another cycle of remediation. With each cycle, contaminants areflushed from the land by the water, which is purified of contaminantsand reused.

Once the land is remediated, water processor 30, filtration unit 32, andfiltration pump 50 may be removed to allow system 100 to function as asoil treatment system in phase two. Embodiments which also used sensors,ionization unit 31, additive unit 33, and/or heater unit 34 may removesome or all of these components. In return, a user may add different oradditional sensors, additive unit 33, and/or heater unit 34 to assist inoptimizing the land during phase two. In certain embodiments, phase onemay be omitted entirely and system components placed only to enableimmediate soil treatment.

As shown in the flowchart of FIGS. 2a through 2f , the following method200 addresses installation and use of system 100 to remediatecontaminated land. It should be understood that the arrangement of thesteps of method 200 may be reordered as long as the fundamental functionof method 200 remains unaltered.

As shown in FIG. 2a , in optional step 202, a soil scan is performed todetermine the likelihood of success using system 100.

In step 204, at least one pipe loop 10 is installed in the soil,embedded below an upper surface of the land and optionally sealed to thesoil using membrane 13. Embedding may be by horizontal drilling and pipedeployment, and/or by digging or plowing a trench in the land and layingpipe loop 10 in place.

In optional step 206, any trenches or other surface depressionsresulting from installation of pipe loop 10 are filled in with soil.Soil compacting may be required to help ground pressures remainconsistent.

In step 208, the beginning of pipe loop 10 is connected to an outletpipe branch 16 a of at least one water main pipe 15 and the end of pipeloop 10 is connected to a corresponding inlet pipe branch 16 b of thewater main pipe 15.

In optional step 210, steps 202 through 208 are repeated until theentire area to be remediated has sufficient pipe loops 10 to cover thearea for remediation.

In step 212, at least one drainage trench 20 is dug completelycircumscribing the area to be remediated and connected to at least onewater storage unit 40. Additional interconnected drainage trenches 20may be dug to subdivide the area and separate various groups of pipeloops 10.

As shown in FIG. 2b , in step 214, drainage trenches 20 are lined withnon-permeable membrane 21 and permeable membrane 22.

In step 216, irrigation pump 55 is connected between water main pipe 15and at least one water storage unit 40.

In optional step 218, ionization unit 31 is connected to the water lineleading to irrigation pump 55.

In optional step 220, additive unit 33 is connected to the water lineleading to irrigation pump 55.

In optional step 222, heater unit 34 is connected to the water lineleading to irrigation pump 55.

As shown in FIG. 2c , in step 224, filtration unit 32 is connectedbetween irrigation pump 55 and water storage unit 40.

In step 226, filtration pump 50 is connected between filtration unit 32and water storage unit 40.

In step 228, water processor 30 is connected between water storage unit40 and drainage trench 20.

In optional step 230, ionization unit 31 is also connected between waterstorage unit 40 and drainage trench 20.

In optional step 232, at least one moisture sensor 70, chemical sensor71, temperature sensor 72, pressure sensor 73, and/or flow sensor 74 areplaced in or on at least one of the above components of system 100 orthe area to be remediated.

As shown in FIG. 2d , in step 234, system controller 60 is connected toall installed system components that require control or provide data.

In optional step 236, system controller 60 receives initial setup datafrom all connected system components and/or from at least one user.

In optional step 238, system controller 60 performs an initialconfiguration of all connected system components based on the initialsetup data obtained in step 236.

In step 240, system controller 60 executes at least one remediationoperation in the area to be remediated. This operation at a minimumcirculates a stream of water from pipe loop 10 to the land to drainagetrench 10 to water storage unit 40 to irrigation pump 55 to water mainpipe 15 and back to pipe loop 10.

In step 242, system controller 60 receives feedback from at least oneconnected system component.

As shown in FIG. 2e , in optional step 244, system controller 60 altersat least one operational parameter based on the feedback obtained instep 242, the time, and/or the cycle number.

In optional step 246, system controller 60 maintains current operationalparameters based on the feedback obtained in step 242, the time, and/orthe cycle number.

In optional step 248, system controller 60 repeats steps 240 through 246until the contamination reaches a preset level, a predetermined timeelapses, a predetermined number of cycles pass, and/or anotherpredetermined condition is met.

In optional step 250, system controller 60 repeats steps 240 through 246until the user stops system 100 from repeating steps 240 through 246.

As shown in FIG. 2f , in optional step 252, water processor 30 isremoved.

In optional step 254, water storage unit 40 and drainage trench 20 aredirectly connected.

In optional step 256, any additional unnecessary system components areremoved.

As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b , the following method 300 addresses use ofsystem 100 to optimize land through delivery of water, either as purewater for irrigation or with at least one additional soil additive.Before step 302, any of steps 202-216, 220-226, 232, and/or 234 ofmethod 200 may be used to install various components of system 100 ifremoval of contaminants from the land is unnecessary beforehand. Itshould be understood that the arrangement of the steps of method 300 maybe reordered as long as the fundamental function of method 300 remainsunaltered.

As shown in FIG. 3a , in optional step 302, system controller 60receives initial setup data from all connected system components and/orfrom at least one user.

In optional step 304, system controller 60 performs an initialconfiguration of all connected system components based on the initialsetup data obtained in step 302.

In step 306, system controller 60 executes at least one additiveoperation in the area to be optimized.

In step 308, system controller 60 receives feedback from at least oneconnected system component.

In optional step 310, system controller 60 alters at least oneoperational parameter based on the feedback obtained in step 308, thetime, and/or the cycle number.

In optional step 312, system controller 60 maintains current operationalparameters based on the feedback obtained in step 308, the time, and/orthe cycle number.

As shown in FIG. 3b , in optional step 314, system controller 60 repeatssteps 306 through 312 until the amount of soil additive in the soilreaches a preset level, a predetermined time elapses, a predeterminednumber of cycles pass, and/or another predetermined condition is met.

In optional step 316, system controller 60 repeats steps 306 through 312until the user manually halts system 100.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary embodiment of controller 60 in system 100.

The controller 60 is generally an independent processing system thatincludes a processor 61, software 62, a communication interface 63, auser interface 64, a processor storage 65, and a controller data storage66. The processor 61 loads and executes software 62 from processorstorage 65, including at least one operational profile 90 containingcommands, data values/ranges, and variables for at least one specifictype of operation, as detailed above. When executed by controller 60,software 62 directs the processor 61 to operate as described in hereinin accordance with certain steps of methods 200 and 300.

The controller 60 includes software 62 for controlling and modifying thefunctioning of system 100. While the description as provided hereinrefers to a controller 60 and a processor 61, it is to be recognizedthat implementations of such controllers can be performed using one ormore processors 61, which may be communicatively connected, and suchimplementations are considered to be within the scope of thedescription. It is also contemplated that these components of controller60 may be operating in a number of physical locations.

The processor 61 can comprise a microprocessor and other circuitry thatretrieves and executes software 62 from controller data storage 66. Theprocessor 61 can be implemented within a single processing device butcan also be distributed across multiple processing devices orsub-systems that cooperate in existing program instructions. Examples ofprocessors 61 include general purpose central processing units,application specific processors, and logic devices, as well as any othertype of processing device, combinations of processing devices, orvariations thereof.

The controller data storage 66 can comprise any storage media readableby processor 61, and capable of storing software 62. The controller datastorage 66 can include volatile and non-volatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other information. The controller data storage 66can be implemented as a single storage device but may also beimplemented across multiple storage devices or sub-systems. Thecontroller data storage 66 can further include additional elements, sucha controller capable of communicating with the processor 61.

Examples of storage media include random access memory, read onlymemory, magnetic discs, optical discs, flash memory, virtual memory, andnon-virtual memory, magnetic sets, magnetic tape, magnetic disc storageor other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be usedto store the desired information and that may be accessed by aninstruction execution system, as well as any combination or variationthereof, or any other type of storage medium. In some implementations,the storage media can be a non-transitory storage media. In someimplementations, at least a portion of the storage media may betransitory. Storage media may be internal or external to system 100.

As described in further detail herein, controller 60 receives andtransmits data through communication interface 63. The data can includedata from sensors 70 through 74, data to be recorded by controller datastorage 66, and/or data received from user interface 64. In embodiments,the communication interface 63 also operates to process data prior tosending and/or after receiving the data. Data processing can includepacketization, digitization, format conversion, encryption, and/or thereverse of such processes.

The user interface 64 can include one or more input devices such as, butnot limited to, a mouse, a keyboard or keypad, a voice input device, atouch input device for receiving a gesture from a user, a motion inputdevice for detecting non-touch gestures and other motions by a user,and/or other comparable input devices and associated processing elementscapable of receiving user input from a user. Output devices such as avideo display or graphical display can display data or current status ofsystem components. Speakers, printers, haptic devices and other types ofoutput devices may also be included in the user interface 64. Users cancommunicate with controller 60 through the user interface 64 in order toenter or receive data, set initial parameters, set stop parameters, orany number of other tasks the user may want to complete with controller60.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beinferred therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued. Any different configurations, systems, and method stepsdescribed herein may be used alone or in combination with otherconfigurations, systems, and method steps. It is to be expected thatvarious equivalents, alternatives, and modifications are possible withinthe scope of the appended claims.

1.-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for treating land, comprising:circulating a stream of water such that the stream of water travels fromat least one pipe loop to a plot of land in which the pipe loop isembedded, continuing to circulate the stream of water such that thestream of water drains by way of gravity through a surface of at leastone drainage trench to the at least one drainage trench, wherein the atleast one drainage trench is lined along at least one surface with aliquid-permeable membrane, and continuing to circulate the stream ofwater such that the stream of water travels from the drainage trench andback to the at least one pipe loop.
 22. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising: transmitting feedback from at least one system controlcomponent to at least one system controller; and modifying an operatingparameter of the system based on the feedback.
 23. The method of claim22, wherein modifying the operating parameter of the system is performedby the system controller
 24. The method of claim 22, wherein modifyingthe operating parameter of the system is performed by the user.
 25. Themethod of claim 22, wherein modifying the operating parameter of thesystem is based on a chemical level detected by at least one chemicalsensor.
 26. The method of claim 22, wherein modifying the operatingparameter of the system is based on the time of operation.
 27. Themethod of claim 21, further comprising increasing content of an additivein the plot of land by circulating the stream of water, wherein thestream of water carries the additive which remains in the plot of landwhen the stream of water drains.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein theadditive is an organic additive.
 29. The method of claim 27, furthercomprising selecting the additive based on a crop currently growing orintended to be grown in the plot of land.
 30. The method of claim 21,further comprising increasing moisture content of the plot of land bycirculating the stream of water and at least a portion of the stream ofwater remaining in the plot of land.
 31. The method of claim 21, furthercomprising increasing soil temperature of the plot of land bycirculating the stream of water, wherein the stream of water is heatedto a temperature above the soil temperature.
 32. The method of claim 21,further comprising removing at least one contaminant from the plot ofland by circulating the stream of water and having at least a portion ofthe at least one contaminant drain to the at least one drainage trenchwith the stream of water.
 33. The method of claim 21, further comprisingrepeating circulating the stream of water until a predeterminedcondition is met.
 34. The method of claim 21, further comprisingrepeating circulating the stream of water until a user manually haltsthe system.
 35. The method of claim 21, further comprising connecting atleast one system controller to at least one system control component,wherein the system control component is selected from the groupconsisting of: a pump, a sensor, a valve, a water processor, anionization unit, a filtration unit, an additive unit, and a heater unit.36. The method of claim 21, further comprising connecting at least oneadditional system component to the system or removing at least oneadditional system component from the system, wherein the at least oneadditional system component is selected from the group consisting of: apipe loop, a water main pipe, a water storage unit, a pump, a sensor, avalve, a water processor, an ionization unit, a filtration unit, anadditive unit, and a heater unit.
 37. The method of claim 36, furthercomprising pumping the stream of water to the water processor betweenthe at least one drainage trench and the at least one pipe loop.
 38. Themethod of claim 36, further comprising pumping the stream of water tothe ionization unit between the at least one drainage trench and the atleast one pipe loop.
 39. The method of claim 36, further comprisingpumping the stream of water to the filtration unit between the at leastone drainage trench and the at least one pipe loop.
 40. The method ofclaim 36, further comprising combining an additive with the stream ofwater between the at least one drainage trench and the at least one pipeloop.